Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-23
CITY AND DISTRICT.
THE NEW SUN BUILDING.
Compilation Of the Large and Elegant
Structure ON r Street.

Ce@plssson Of the Large and Elegant
Structure ON r Street.
The commission OF the large building on the
north side of street, between 18th and 18th
streets erected by the proprietor of the Baltimore
Sum and known as 1.-The sun Building marks, IT
f. believed a new era In building In Washington.
OF the large business structures OF a substantial
and costly character recently erected, 1.-The Sun
Building" Is the most notable, both on account of
It's sire its cost and its architectural features 1t
Is the most expensive private building ever erected
In Washington. Its huge and elegant front would
make ft q conspicuous object among the splendid
business structures on Broadway, New York,
or upon any of the famed thoroughfares
OF the large cities OF the country
some OF the tenants have already taken possession
OF their apartments The building Is designed for
lett, has arranged the interior plan as to pro-
vide spacious rooms with ample facilities for light
and air. The building IS eight stories In height,
with basement and attic story. 1t has q frontage
OF SO feet street and extends back 113 feet 10
broad alley The front is constructed entirely Of
white marble, and. although the style OF conStruc
ton massive, required by the great size OF the
building, yet the Introduction OF graceful lines
and the blending or the SmOOth-faced marble with
massive rOck-faced blocks tmparts an element OF
nghtneSS which Is pleasing 10 the eye. From the
ground 10 the roof the building rises 10 height OF
I2O feet 1t is surmounted by spire OF iron and
slate, which, starting as square, changes TO an
Octagon and terminates st the height OF liz feet
with nnial In the form OF
GOLDEN Sun.
The side and rear walls are OF brick, painted
white, and the large surface OF the walls distin-
guished by this color from the red brick buildings
which surrounds it makes the building cOnspic-
uous object from every point from which 1t is Wis
fble The feature of the front Is the arch on each
side of the main entrance, which is in the center
OF the building. These arches spring from the
floor level OF the second story, which Is treated
enthusiastically as entreSol, and extends TO It's
ceiling. From the keystoneS OF these arches,
which are decorated with colossal lions heads
carved in the marble, spring oriel windows,
nate In the main cornice Of solid mar:
bic over the main entrance Is carved
soles that cut through and combine with the CAPT
tails OF the 1rSt-Story piers In the center or the
Sren over tine oalcony Is tns carved hesa oi
story, and In the main cornice similar style or
ornanentatiOn Is continued the Sunfiower and 10
lively There are moulded belt courses in each
story, which also serves as nntelS and SliS ABOVE
the main cornice Is an enriched 6alustrade course
over which rises the Spire, and on each SIDE are
twin windows, with gabied heads, terminated by
carved finals, with rosettes In the gables In the
ceuter space there Is un-burst, inscribed with
the legend Light for all"
FIRE-PRooF CONSTRUCTION.
The construction OF the building Is fire proof
throughout, and during the twenty months which
elapsed between breaking ground and its compile
ton, no opportunity has been omitted for obtain
ing the best material and using 1t In the most
substantial and workmanlke style The floors of
the first and second story are brick arches, and
those Of the upper stories and roof OF terracotta
arches, all resting on iron beams, which In the
front and rear sections run from front TO rear.
In the Railways filing is used on the floors with
Tennessee marble sub-baseS, while In the rooms
wood flooring Is laid upon bed OF Portland
cement concrete. The wood work throughout the
building, with the exception Of the main entrance
hal, Is OF OAK, the doors being large and SUB
what is knOwn-a5 the SOap-Stone finish, which
gives a pearly-gray color TO the walls instead Of
the usual monOt0nOuS white finish. A feature OF
the interior finish Is
TIE PLAN OF VENTILATION.
The supply OF cold air Is introduced under the
slls Of the windows, and can be regulated by the
occupants Of each room The heating throughout
Is by steam The upper stories are divided into
being 80 by - feet and the interior rooms each 20
feet square, which are lighted from light well
3 feet wide. and from the stair shaft and above
the fourth story by side windows. An attractive
feature Of the building IS the wide and lofty main
entrance, which Is handsomely finished In mahog-
any, with great doors OF the same wood. The
nooring is Of colored marble tiling and the walls
above the mahogany are finished in plastic work
OF gold, silver and copper bronze. Forming panels
along the wall are marble slabs giving the names
OF the occupants of each floor. From the entrance
hall an elaborate iron and marble staircase aScends
70 the top OF fhe building. On each side OF the
staircase are large elevators, both of which will
be run The railing OF the staircase IS very efabO-
rate and costly, and Is beautiful piece OF work.
II OF nFonzed iron, In the fifteenth century style
Of ornament alton.
THH HKvAfORS
are separated from the corridors by q colonnade
and entablature OF bronzed iron, and this con-
strution is continued through the entire height
OF the building. The gates and screens of the
elevator shafts are combined wrought and cast
Iron grill work, well as the screen ON the top Of
the stair rail- The plumbing In the layatories on
each floor Is under a false ceiling OF galvanized
iron which can be removed so that repairs and
alterations may be made without cutting into the
walls There is no wood In the roof, the tin being
he'd 10 the concrete by copper cleatS, the con-
StructOn being the as that OF the roof OF the
new State. War and Navy Department building.
The engines and boilers for heating and lighting
are all under the front sidewalk, and the coal
vaults have been located In the alley. The Inter-
state Commerce Commission now occupy one
0OOr and A. 5. PratrS sons have their offices on
the second noOr. A suite OF three rooms on the
left Of the main entrance Is being handsomely
1tted up for che use OF the Washington Bureau OF
the Baltimore Sun.